Data Director

Reporting to: Chief Technology Officer

Shape the future of data, AI and digital intelligence at scale

We’re looking for an exceptional data leader to transform how one of the UK’s largest organisations uses data to drive better decisions, innovation and growth.

As Director of Data & Digital Intelligence, you will lead the modernisation of a complex enterprise data landscape, creating a trusted, AI-ready data platform that enables better decision-making across the organisation. You’ll be responsible for turning data into a strategic business asset, accelerating the adoption of AI and advanced analytics, and unlocking new value through data products and services.

This is a high-impact leadership role operating at the intersection of technology, business strategy and transformation. You’ll work closely with senior executives to shape the future of the organisation’s data capabilities and deliver measurable commercial and operational outcomes.

What you’ll be doing

Lead enterprise-wide data transformation

• Define and deliver the enterprise data strategy and roadmap
• Drive the transition from fragmented legacy platforms to a modern cloud-based data ecosystem
• Build a product-led approach to data, enabling reuse, standardisation and scalable delivery
• Create a clear vision for how data supports business growth and strategic decision-making

Build a modern data platform

• Lead the migration to a secure, scalable Google Cloud Platform (GCP) environment
• Establish modern platform capabilities including data ingestion, transformation, observability, security and FinOps
• Ensure cloud transformation delivers long-term value and avoids unnecessary technical debt
• Create an AI-ready foundation that enables future innovation

Establish trusted data governance

• Embed enterprise-wide data governance and ownership
• Improve data quality, standards, metadata management and accessibility
• Create a culture where data is treated as a strategic asset
• Champion data literacy and accountability across the organisation

Accelerate AI and advanced analytics

• Enable the successful adoption of AI, machine learning and automation at scale
• Ensure responsible AI principles are embedded into delivery
• Support experimentation and innovation through repeatable frameworks and governance
• Increase adoption of self-service analytics and insight capabilities

Drive business value from data

• Partner with business leaders to identify and prioritise opportunities
• Create a single source of truth across key business domains
• Establish clear benefits tracking and value measurement
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes from data investments

Build and lead a world-class function

• Lead teams spanning data engineering, analytics, governance and platform capabilities
• Build organisational capability and talent
• Shape supplier and partner strategy
• Influence a wide network of technology, data and business stakeholders

Essential experience

• Senior leadership experience delivering large-scale enterprise data transformation programmes
• A proven track record of modernising complex legacy data environments
• Experience leading major cloud data platform programmes, ideally on GCP
• Strong expertise in data governance, quality, metadata and operating models
• Experience enabling AI, machine learning and advanced analytics adoption
• Demonstrable success delivering measurable business value through data and technology investment

Essential skills

• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive influencing capability
• Strong commercial and strategic thinking
• Deep understanding of modern data architectures and data product operating models
• Experience leading large, complex transformation portfolios
• Ability to lead through matrix structures and diverse delivery teams
• Strong focus on outcomes, value realisation and execution

Desirable

• Experience in highly regulated or complex operational environments
• Experience creating customer-facing data products or services
• Knowledge of data monetisation strategies and commercial data opportunities

This is an opportunity to lead one of the most significant data transformation programmes in the UK.

You’ll have responsibility for:

• A multi-million-pound transformation investment
• Enterprise-wide influence across technology and business functions
• Large-scale teams and strategic supplier partnerships
• The development of future AI and data capabilities
• Delivering measurable value across an organisation operating at significant scale

If you are passionate about transforming organisations through data, building modern cloud platforms, and unlocking the potential of AI, we’d love to hear from you.

Extra Benefits

• Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
• Supportive and generous company sick pay
• Funded Dental - As a manager you are eligible to a level of employer funded dental insurance*
• Health Assessment - As a manager you are eligible to an employer funded health assessment every 2 years*
• Benefits Account - You will have access to your personal benefits account on our ‘My Bundle+’ platform. There are more than 800 retail offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills as well as employer provided and voluntary benefits to suit your lifestyle.
• Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life. From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice. It’s free, and it’s for everyone.

*Available only to permanent employees

Next Steps

The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions.

Trust is the foundation of Royal Mail . We aim to be transparent about the qualities we seek and what a career with us entails, building trust from the start of your journey with us.

We understand that candidates may not meet all the criteria for the role. If your experience is different, but you have relevant skills we’d love to hear from you.